U.S. patent application number 13/456569 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-31 for automatic configuration of electronic devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to APPLE INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Kapil Chhabra. Invention is credited to Kapil Chhabra.
Application Number | 20130288601 13/456569 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48184548 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130288601 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chhabra; Kapil |
October 31, 2013 |
AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Abstract
The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates the
configuration of a first electronic device. During operation, the
system detects a non-configured state of the first electronic
device in proximity to a second electronic device. Next, the system
establishes a network connection between the first and second
electronic devices. Finally, the system uses the network connection
to transmit configuration information from the second electronic
device to the first electronic device, wherein the configuration
information is used to configure the first electronic device
without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface
of the first electronic device.
Inventors: |
Chhabra; Kapil; (Milpitas,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Chhabra; Kapil |
Milpitas |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
APPLE INC.
Cupertino
CA
|
Family ID: |
48184548 |
Appl. No.: |
13/456569 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/41.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L 41/0886 20130101;
H04W 8/005 20130101; H04W 8/18 20130101; H04L 63/18 20130101; H04W
76/14 20180201; H04W 84/18 20130101; H04L 41/0846 20130101; H04W
4/80 20180201; H04W 4/50 20180201; H04W 8/24 20130101; H04L 41/0866
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/41.2 |
International
Class: |
H04W 84/02 20090101
H04W084/02 |
Claims
1. A method for facilitating the configuration of a first
electronic device, comprising: detecting a non-configured state of
the first electronic device in proximity to a second electronic
device; establishing a network connection between the first and
second electronic devices; and using the network connection to
transmit configuration information from the second electronic
device to the first electronic device, wherein the configuration
information is used to configure the first electronic device
without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface
of the first electronic device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration information
comprises at least one of: network credentials for a wireless
network, wherein the network credentials are used by the first
electronic device to connect to the wireless network; and account
credentials associated with one or more user accounts, wherein the
account credentials are used by the first electronic device to
access the one or more user accounts.
3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: obtaining the network
credentials based on a preferred network list from the second
electronic device and the wireless network in proximity to the
second electronic device; and obtaining the account credentials
from one or more applications on the second electronic device.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: further obtaining at
least some of the network credentials and the account credentials
based on user input from the user.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the non-configured
state of the first electronic device in proximity to the second
electronic device comprises: if the first electronic device is not
connected to a wired network, detecting the non-configured state
using at least one of: a beacon frame from the first electronic
device; and a probe response frame from the first electronic
device; and if the first electronic device is connected to the
wired network, using a discovery protocol to obtain a message
indicating the non-configured state of the first electronic
device.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the network
connection between the first and second electronic devices
comprises: if the first electronic device is not connected to the
wired network, using the second electronic device to connect to an
ad hoc network created by the first electronic device; and if the
first electronic device is connected to the wired network, using an
access point connected to the wired network to establish the
network connection between the first and second electronic
devices.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electronic device lacks
a touch-based keyboard and a physical keyboard.
8. A method for configuring a first electronic device, comprising:
enabling detection of a non-configured state of the first
electronic device in proximity to a second electronic device;
receiving configuration information from the second electronic
device over a network connection between the first and second
electronic devices; and using the configuration information to
configure the first electronic device without receiving manual
input from a user through a user interface of the first electronic
device.
9. The method of claim 8, further comprising: if the first
electronic device is not connected to a wired network: using the
first electronic device to create an ad hoc network; and using the
ad hoc network to establish the network connection; and if the
first electronic device is connected to the wired network, using
the wired network to establish the network connection.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein enabling detection of the
non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to
the second electronic device comprises at least one of:
transmitting a beacon frame from the first electronic device;
transmitting a probe response frame from the first electronic
device in response to a probe request frame from the second
electronic device; and using a discovery protocol to provide a
message indicating the non-configured state of the first electronic
device.
11. The method of claim 8, further comprising: verifying the
configuration information with the user prior to configuring the
first electronic device.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the configuration information
comprises at least one of: network credentials for a wireless
network, wherein the network credentials are used by the first
electronic device to connect to the wireless network; and account
credentials associated with one or more user accounts, wherein the
account credentials are used by the first electronic device to
access the one or more user accounts.
13. A system for facilitating the configuration of a first
electronic device, comprising: the first electronic device
configured to: enable detection of a non-configured state of the
first electronic device; and use configuration information from a
second electronic device to configure the first electronic device
without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface
of the first electronic device; and the second electronic device
configured to: detect the non-configured state of the first
electronic device; establish a network connection between the first
and second electronic devices; and use the network connection to
transmit the configuration information to the first electronic
device.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the configuration information
comprises at least one of: network credentials for a wireless
network, wherein the network credentials are used by the first
electronic device to connect to the wireless network; and account
credentials associated with one or more user accounts, wherein the
account credentials are used by the first electronic device to
access the one or more user accounts.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second electronic device is
further configured to: obtain the network credentials based on a
preferred network list on the second electronic device and the
wireless network in proximity to the second electronic device; and
obtain the account credentials from one or more applications on the
second electronic device.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the second electronic device is
configured to detect the non-configured state using at least one
of: a beacon frame from the first electronic device; a probe
response frame from the first electronic device; and a message from
a discovery protocol indicating the non-configured state of the
first electronic device.
17. The system of claim 13, wherein the first electronic device is
further configured to: create an ad hoc network if the first
electronic device is not connected to a wired network.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein establishing the network
connection between the first and second electronic devices
comprises: if the first electronic device is not connected to the
wired network, using the second electronic device to connect to the
ad hoc network; and if the first electronic device is connected to
the wired network, using an access point connected to the wired
network to establish the network connection between the first and
second electronic devices.
19. The system of claim 13, wherein the first electronic device is
at least one of a digital media receiver, a digital media player, a
television, a video game console, and an audio output device.
20. The system of claim 13, wherein the second electronic device is
at least one of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a portable media
player, a laptop computer, and a personal computer.
21. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that
when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method
for facilitating the configuration of a first electronic device
that lacks a keyboard, the method comprising: detecting a
non-configured state of the first electronic device in proximity to
a second electronic device; establishing a network connection
between the first and second electronic devices; and using the
network connection to transmit configuration information from the
second electronic device to the first electronic device, wherein
the configuration information is used to configure the first
electronic device without receiving manual input from a user
through a user interface of the first electronic device.
22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the
configuration information comprises at least one of: network
credentials for a wireless network, wherein the network credentials
are used by the first electronic device to connect to the wireless
network; and account credentials associated with one or more user
accounts, wherein the account credentials are used by the first
electronic device to access the one or more user accounts.
23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 22, the method
further comprising: obtaining the network credentials based on a
preferred network list from the second electronic device and the
wireless network in proximity to the second electronic device; and
obtaining the account credentials from one or more applications on
the second electronic device.
24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein
detecting the non-configured state of the first electronic device
in proximity to the second electronic device comprises: if the
first electronic device is not connected to a wired network,
detecting the non-configured state using at least one of: a beacon
frame from the first electronic device; and a probe response frame
from the first electronic device; and if the first electronic
device is connected to the wired network, using a discovery
protocol to obtain a message indicating the non-configured state of
the first electronic device.
25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein
establishing the network connection between the first and second
electronic devices comprises: if the first electronic device is not
connected to the wired network, using the second electronic device
to connect to an ad hoc network created by the first electronic
device; and if the first electronic device is connected to the
wired network, using an access point connected to the wired network
to establish the network connection between the first and second
electronic devices.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Field
[0002] The disclosed embodiments relate to configuration of
electronic devices. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments
relate to techniques for automatically configuring electronic
devices without receiving user input from users through user
interfaces of the electronic devices.
[0003] 2. Related Art
[0004] Recent improvements in computing power and wireless
networking technology have significantly increased the capabilities
of electronic devices. For example, laptop computers, tablet
computers, portable media players, smartphones, digital media
receivers, video game consoles, and/or other modern computing
devices are typically equipped with WiFi capabilities that allow
the computing devices to stream audio and/or video, share desktops
and/or user interfaces (UIs), and/or transfer files wirelessly
among one another.
[0005] However, some wireless-enabled electronic devices may lack
keyboards, touchscreens, and/or other input devices that allow
users to easily provide text input to the electronic devices.
Instead, the users may configure and/or operate the computing
devices using a limited set of buttons, switches, and/or knobs. For
example, a user may configure a digital media receiver by
connecting the digital media receiver to a display (e.g.,
television) and viewing a user interface provided by the digital
media receiver on the display. The user may then use a remote
control to scroll through a character set in the user interface and
select individual characters from the character set to input
network credentials for a wireless network to which the digital
media receiver should connect, as well as account credentials for
user accounts associated with digital media to be accessed using
the digital media receiver. Consequently, configuration and/or use
of electronic devices with limited I/O capabilities may be tedious,
slow, and/or challenging for users of the electronic devices.
SUMMARY
[0006] The disclosed embodiments provide a system that facilitates
the configuration of a first electronic device. During operation,
the system detects a non-configured state of the first electronic
device in proximity to a second electronic device. Next, the system
establishes a network connection between the first and second
electronic devices. Finally, the system uses the network connection
to transmit configuration information from the second electronic
device to the first electronic device, wherein the configuration
information is used to configure the first electronic device
without receiving manual input from a user through a user interface
of the first electronic device.
[0007] In some embodiments, the configuration information comprises
at least one of: [0008] (i) network credentials for a wireless
network, wherein the network credentials are used by the first
electronic device to connect to the wireless network; and [0009]
(ii) account credentials associated with one or more user accounts,
wherein the account credentials are used by the first electronic
device to access the one or more user accounts.
[0010] In some embodiments, the system also obtains the network
credentials based on a preferred network list from the second
electronic device and the wireless network in proximity to the
second electronic device, and obtains the account credentials from
one or more applications on the second electronic device.
[0011] In some embodiments, the system also obtains at least some
of the network credentials and the account credentials based on
user input from the user. For example, the user may select network
and/or account credentials to be included in the configuration
information if more than one set of network and/or account
credentials are obtained. Conversely, if some or all of the network
and/or account credentials are not available on the second
electronic device and/or otherwise not suitable for use in
configuring the first electronic device, the missing network and/or
account credentials may be supplied by the user through a user
interface of the second electronic device.
[0012] In some embodiments, detecting the non-configured state of
the first electronic device in proximity to the second electronic
device includes: [0013] (i) detecting the non-configured state
using at least one of a beacon frame from the first electronic
device and a probe response frame from the first electronic device
if the first electronic device is not connected to a wired network;
and [0014] (ii) using a discovery protocol to obtain a message
indicating the non-configured state of the first electronic device
if the first electronic device is connected to the wired
network.
[0015] In some embodiments, establishing the network connection
between the first and second electronic devices comprises using the
second electronic device to connect to an ad hoc network created by
the first electronic device if the first electronic device is not
connected to the wired network, and using an access point connected
to the wired network to establish the network connection between
the first and second electronic devices if the first electronic
device is connected to the wired network.
[0016] In some embodiments, the first electronic device lacks a
touch-based keyboard and a physical keyboard. For example, the
first electronic device may be a digital media receiver, a digital
media player, a television, a video game console, and/or an audio
output device. On the other hand, the second electronic device may
include a touch-based keyboard and/or a physical keyboard. For
example, the second electronic device may be a mobile phone, a
tablet computer, a portable media player, a laptop computer, and/or
a personal computer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a system in accordance with the
disclosed embodiments.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a system for facilitating the configuration of
an electronic device in accordance with the disclosed
embodiments.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of
facilitating the configuration of a first electronic device in
accordance with the disclosed embodiments.
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of
configuring a first electronic device in accordance with the
disclosed embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows a computer system in accordance with the
disclosed embodiments.
[0022] In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same
figure elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] The following description is presented to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments, and is provided
in the context of a particular application and its requirements.
Various modifications to the disclosed embodiments will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles
defined herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications
without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the
embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope
consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
[0024] The data structures and code described in this detailed
description are typically stored on a computer-readable storage
medium, which may be any device or medium that can store code
and/or data for use by a computer system. The computer-readable
storage medium includes, but is not limited to, volatile memory,
non-volatile memory, magnetic and optical storage devices such as
disk drives, magnetic tape, CDs (compact discs), DVDs (digital
versatile discs or digital video discs), or other media capable of
storing code and/or data.
[0025] The methods and processes described in the detailed
description section can be embodied as code and/or data, which can
be stored in a computer-readable storage medium as described above.
When a computer system reads and executes the code and/or data
stored on the computer-readable storage medium, the computer system
performs the methods and processes embodied as data structures and
code and stored within the computer-readable storage medium.
[0026] Furthermore, methods and processes described herein can be
included in hardware modules or apparatus. These modules or
apparatus may include, but are not limited to, an
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chip, a
field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated or shared
processor that executes a particular software module or a piece of
code at a particular time, and/or other programmable-logic devices.
When the hardware modules or apparatus are activated, they perform
the methods and processes included within them.
[0027] The disclosed embodiments provide a method and system for
facilitating the configuration of an electronic device with limited
input/output (I/O) functionality, such as a digital media receiver,
digital media player, television, video game console, and/or audio
output device. For example, the electronic device may lack a
physical keyboard, a touch-based keyboard, and/or another input
mechanism that allows a user to easily provide text input to the
electronic device. Instead, the user may input text to the
electronic device using a limited set of buttons, knobs, and/or
other basic input devices. For example, the user may use a remote
control and/or game controller for the electronic device to "type"
a word or phrase by scrolling through one or more character sets
shown on a display driven by the electronic device and selecting
individual characters from the character set(s).
[0028] In one or more embodiments, the electronic device includes
wired and/or wireless networking functionality. As shown in FIG. 1,
an electronic device 106 may be connected to a wired network 102
such as a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN),
personal area network (PAN), virtual private network, and/or
intranet using a wired Ethernet connection. Alternatively,
electronic device 106 may wirelessly connect to wired network 102
through an access point 104 connected to wired network 102.
[0029] Electronic device 106 may also communicate with one or more
other electronic devices 108-110 using wired and/or wireless
connections with the other electronic devices. For example,
electronic device 106 may be a digital media receiver that drives a
display provided by electronic device 110 (e.g., a television) by
sending video frames through a cable connecting the two electronic
devices. Along the same lines, electronic device 108 may be a
tablet computer that displays video frames from electronic device
106 after the video frames are received through a wireless
connection with electronic device 106.
[0030] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that setup and/or
configuration of electronic device 106 may be required to enable
the functionality of electronic device 106. For example, electronic
device 106 may have network connectivity only after electronic
device 106 is connected to wired network 102 using an Ethernet
cable and/or network credentials (e.g., network name, password) for
a wireless network provided by access point 104 are provided to
electronic device 106. Similarly, some or all features of
electronic device 106 may not be enabled until account credentials
(e.g., usernames, passwords) for user accounts associated with
applications on electronic device 106 are obtained by electronic
device 106.
[0031] As described above, the limited I/O capabilities of
electronic device 106 may hinder the prompt and/or efficient
configuration of electronic device 106. For example, a user of
electronic device 106 may find inputting of multiple names,
passwords, and/or other configuration details into electronic
device 106 using a remote control, game controller, and/or limited
set of buttons to be tedious, complicated, and/or
time-consuming.
[0032] In one or more embodiments, the networking capabilities of
electronic device 106 and/or other electronic devices 108-110 are
used to streamline the configuration of electronic device 106.
First, electronic device 106 may enable detection of a
non-configured state of electronic device 106 in proximity to a
second electronic device (e.g., electronic device 108). For
example, electronic device 106 may wirelessly transmit a beacon
frame and/or probe response frame indicating the non-configured
state, or electronic device 106 may advertise the non-configured
state using a discovery protocol and wired network 102. Once the
non-configured state is detected by the second electronic device,
the second electronic device may establish a network connection
with electronic device 106. For example, the second electronic
device may connect to an ad hoc network created by electronic
device 106 if electronic device 106 is not connected to wired
network 102. On the other hand, the second electronic device may
use an access point (e.g., access point 104) connected to wired
network 102 to establish the network connection if electronic
device 106 is connected to wired network 102.
[0033] The second electronic device may then use the network
connection to transmit configuration information to electronic
device 106, and electronic device 106 may use the configuration
information to configure electronic device 106 without receiving
user input from a user through a user interface of electronic
device 106. Automatic configuration of electronic devices using
configuration information from other electronic devices is
discussed in further detail below with respect to FIG. 2.
[0034] FIG. 2 shows a system for facilitating the configuration of
an electronic device 202 in accordance with the disclosed
embodiments. Like electronic device 106 of FIG. 1, electronic
device 202 may lack a touch-based and/or physical keyboard but
include wired and/or wireless networking capabilities. For example,
electronic device 202 may be a digital media receiver, digital
media player, television, video game console, and/or audio output
device (e.g., stereo system).
[0035] During initial setup of electronic device 202, electronic
device 202 may be connected to a power supply (e.g., mains power)
using a cable supplied with electronic device 202. Electronic
device 202 may also be connected to a display and/or a wired
network 226 if cables (e.g., Digital Visual Interface (DVI) cable,
High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cable, Ethernet cable,
etc.) and/or ports for connecting electronic device 202 to the
display and/or wired network 226 are available.
[0036] Configuration of electronic device 202 may then be performed
to enable various features and/or functionality of electronic
device 202. For example, configuration information 222 such as
network credentials for a wireless network (e.g., wireless network
232) may be provided to electronic device 202 to allow electronic
device 202 to connect to the wireless network (e.g., if electronic
device 202 is not connected to wired network 226). Configuration
information 222 for electronic device 202 may also include account
credentials for one or more user accounts to enable access to
applications and/or data associated with the user accounts from
electronic device 202.
[0037] In addition, configuration of electronic device 202 may be
performed automatically, during which configuration information 222
is transmitted from a second electronic device 204 (e.g., mobile
phone, tablet computer, portable media player, personal computer,
etc.) to electronic device 202, or manually, in which a user
manually inputs configuration information 222 using input
mechanisms associated with electronic device 202. During setup of
electronic device 202, the user may be given an option to select
either automatic or manual configuration of electronic device 202.
For example, the user may be presented with the option through a
user interface of electronic device 202 and/or electronic device
204.
[0038] Configuration of electronic device 202 may then proceed
based on the selected configuration mode (e.g., manual or
automatic) from the user and/or the connecting of electronic device
202 to wired network 226. If manual configuration of electronic
device 202 is selected by the user, a configuration apparatus 216
on electronic device 202 may obtain configuration information 222
from the user through a user interface of electronic device 202.
For example, the user may manually input network and/or account
credentials into electronic device 202 by using a remote control,
game controller, and/or limited set of buttons to scroll through
one or more character sets shown on the user interface and select
individual characters from the character set(s). Configuration
apparatus 216 may then use the inputted network and/or account
credentials to configure electronic device 202.
[0039] On the other hand, if automatic configuration of electronic
device 202 is selected by the user, a discovery apparatus 208 on
electronic device 202 may enable detection of a non-configured
state 210 of electronic device 202 in proximity to electronic
device 204. For example, if electronic device 202 is not connected
to wired network 226, a communication apparatus 212 on electronic
device 202 may create an ad hoc network 214 (e.g., an 802.11
independent basic service set (IBSS)), and discovery apparatus 208
may periodically transmit a beacon frame containing information
about ad hoc network 214 and non-configured state 210. Discovery
apparatus 208 may also transmit a probe response frame containing
information about ad hoc network 214 and non-configured state 210
over ad hoc network 214 in response to a probe request frame from
electronic device 204. If electronic device 202 is connected to
wired network 226, communication apparatus 212 may omit the
creation of ad hoc network 214, and discovery apparatus 208 may use
a discovery protocol such as Multicast Domain Name System (mDNS) to
provide a message indicating non-configured state 210 through wired
network 226.
[0040] Along the same lines, a scanning apparatus 218 on electronic
device 204 may include functionality to detect non-configured state
210. For example, scanning apparatus 218 may be provided by an
application on electronic device 204 that enables the configuration
of other electronic devices (e.g., electronic device 202) using
configuration information 222 stored on electronic device 204.
During execution of the application, scanning apparatus 218 may
scan the proximity of electronic device 204 for beacon frames that
indicate non-configured states (e.g., non-configured state 210) of
nearby electronic devices. Alternatively, scanning apparatus 218
may transmit a probe request frame to detect wireless networks
(e.g., ad hoc network 214) indicating non-configured states of
nearby electronic devices. Finally, scanning apparatus 218 may use
the discovery protocol to obtain a message indicating
non-configured state 210 from an access point 206 connected to
wired network 226. If scanning apparatus 218 detects more than one
electronic device with a non-configured state in proximity to
electronic device 204, scanning apparatus 218 may obtain a
selection of one of the electronic devices for subsequent
configuration using configuration information 222 from the
user.
[0041] Once non-configured state 210 is detected by scanning
apparatus 218, a communication apparatus 220 on electronic device
204 may establish a network connection with electronic device 202.
As with detection of non-configured state 210, the network
connection may be established based on the presence or absence of a
connection between electronic device 202 and wired network 226. If
electronic device 202 is not connected to wired network 226,
electronic device 204 may connect to ad hoc network 214 using
information from the beacon frame and/or probe response frame, thus
forming a wireless peer-to-peer connection 228 between the two
electronic devices 202-204.
[0042] If electronic device 202 is connected to wired network 226,
electronic device 204 may use an access point (e.g., access point
206) connected to wired network 226 to establish the network
connection. For example, electronic device 204 may connect to
wireless network 232 provided by access point 206 (e.g., if
electronic device 204 is not already connected to wireless network
232) and establish the network connection with electronic device
202 through access point 206. Finally, if electronic device 204 is
also connected to wired network 226 (e.g., through an Ethernet
cable), electronic device 204 may establish the network connection
with electronic device 202 through wired network 226.
[0043] Communication apparatus 220 may then transmit configuration
information 222 over the network connection to communication
apparatus 212. As described above, configuration information 222
may include network credentials (e.g., service set identifier
(SSID), password, etc.) for a wireless network (e.g., wireless
network 232) and/or account credentials (e.g., username, password,
etc.) for one or more user accounts.
[0044] The network credentials may allow electronic device 202 to
connect to the wireless network. For example, communication
apparatus 220 may transmit, to communication apparatus 212, network
credentials for a wireless network (e.g., wireless network 232) to
which electronic device 204 is already connected. If electronic
device 204 is not connected to a wireless network, communication
apparatus 220 may compare a preferred network list 224 of wireless
networks on electronic device 204 with nearby wireless networks and
transmit network credentials for a wireless network (e.g., wireless
network 232) that is both within range and in preferred network
list 224 to communication apparatus 220. If more than one wireless
network is both in proximity to electronic device 204 and in
preferred network list 224 (e.g., a list of saved wireless networks
previously connected to electronic device 204), communication
apparatus 220 may obtain a selection of the wireless network to
which electronic device 202 is to be connected from the user.
Finally, if electronic device 202 is connected to wired network
226, communication apparatus 220 may omit the network credentials
from configuration information 222 because electronic device 202
already has network connectivity through a wired link.
[0045] The account credentials may allow electronic device 202 to
access the corresponding user account(s) and/or data associated
with the user account(s). The account credentials may be stored on
electronic device 204 and used by electronic device 204 to access
the same user account(s) and/or data. Alternatively, the account
credentials may be obtained from the user through a user interface
of electronic device 204. For example, the user may enter the
account credentials using a physical keyboard and/or touch-based
keyboard associated with electronic device 204, thus allowing the
user to provide the account credentials more easily and/or
efficiently than if the user entered the account credentials using
an input mechanism (e.g., remote control, game controller, buttons,
etc.) associated with electronic device 202.
[0046] Prior to transmitting configuration information 222,
communication apparatus 220 may encrypt and/or otherwise secure
configuration information 222 to maintain the integrity of
configuration information 222. After configuration information 222
is received by communication apparatus 212, configuration apparatus
216 may use configuration information 222 to configure electronic
device 202. For example, communication apparatus 212 may decrypt
configuration information 222, and configuration apparatus 216 may
verify configuration information 222 by displaying one or more
identifiers for electronic devices 202-204 and/or network names or
usernames from configuration information 222 to the user.
Configuration apparatus 216 may then provide the network
credentials to communication apparatus 212, and communication
apparatus 212 may use the network credentials to connect to
wireless network 232. Configuration apparatus 216 may also provide
the account credentials to one or more applications on electronic
device 202, and the applications may use the account credentials to
access the user account(s) and/or associated data. The network
and/or account credentials may then be stored in nonvolatile memory
on electronic device 202 to enable subsequent use of electronic
device 202 with the network and/or account credentials.
[0047] Because electronic devices 202-204 may enable detection of
non-configured state 210 and transmission of configuration
information 222 over different types of network connections,
automatic configuration of electronic device 202 may be enabled as
long as electronic device 202 is in proximity to electronic device
204. In addition, the verification and/or encryption of
configuration information 222 prior to configuring electronic
device 202 may ensure that automatic configuration of electronic
device 202 is both secured and conducted using the right network
and/or account credentials.
[0048] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the system of
FIG. 2 may be implemented in a variety of ways. First, components
on individual electronic devices 202-204 (e.g., discovery apparatus
208, communication apparatus 212, configuration apparatus 216,
scanning apparatus 218, communication apparatus 220) may be
provided by the same software and/or hardware component, or the
components may execute independently from one another. For example,
the components may be implemented by one or more dedicated
processors and/or general-purpose processors on electronic devices
202-204.
[0049] Second, electronic devices 202-204 may use a number of
mechanisms to enable detection of non-configured state 210 and/or
establish a network connection with one another. For example,
discovery apparatus 208 and scanning apparatus 218 may use a number
of discovery protocols and/or 802.11 frames to facilitate the
detection of non-configured state 210. Similarly, communication
apparatus 212 and communication apparatus 220 may connect to one
another through various wired, wireless, and/or ad hoc networking
mechanisms.
[0050] FIG. 3 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of
facilitating the configuration of a first electronic device in
accordance with the disclosed embodiments. In one or more
embodiments, one or more of the steps may be omitted, repeated,
and/or performed in a different order. Accordingly, the specific
arrangement of steps shown in FIG. 3 should not be construed as
limiting the scope of the embodiments.
[0051] Initially, a non-configured state of the first electronic
device in proximity to a second electronic device is detected
(operation 302). The first electronic device may lack a physical
keyboard and/or a touch-based keyboard. For example, the electronic
device may be a digital media receiver, a digital media player, a
television, a video game console, and/or an audio output
device.
[0052] The first electronic device may be automatically configured
(operation 304) using configuration information from the second
electronic device. For example, a user may enable automatic
configuration of the first electronic device by selecting an option
to automatically configure the first electronic device through a
user interface provided by the first and/or second electronic
devices. If the first electronic device is not to be automatically
configured, the first electronic device may be manually configured
by, for example, obtaining configuration information from a user
through a user interface of the first electronic device.
[0053] If the first electronic device is to be automatically
configured, network credentials for a wireless network are obtained
based on a preferred network list from the second electronic device
and the wireless network in proximity to the second electronic
device (operation 306). For example, the network credentials may be
obtained from a wireless network in the preferred network list that
is also within range of the second electronic device. The network
credentials may allow the first electronic device to connect to the
wireless network.
[0054] Similarly, account credentials associated with one or more
user accounts are obtained from one or more applications on the
second electronic device (operation 308). The account credentials
may allow the first electronic device to access the user account(s)
and/or provide features and functionality associated with the user
account(s). For example, the account credentials may enable access
to documents, streaming media, photos, financial information,
and/or games associated with the user account(s).
[0055] Some or all of the network and/or account credentials may
optionally be obtained based on user input from the user (operation
310). For example, the user may select network and/or account
credentials to be used in configuring the first electronic device
if more than one set of network and/or account credentials are
obtained in operations 306-308. Conversely, if some or all of the
network and/or account credentials are not available on the second
electronic device and/or otherwise not suitable for use in
configuring the first electronic device, the missing network and/or
account credentials may be supplied by the user through a user
interface of the second electronic device.
[0056] Next, a network connection is established between the first
and second computing devices (operation 312). For example, the
second electronic device may be used to connect to an ad hoc
network created by the first electronic device if the first
electronic device is not connected to a wired network. On the other
hand, an access point connected to the wired network may be used to
establish the network connection between the first and second
electronic devices if the first electronic device is connected to
the wired network.
[0057] Finally, the network connection is used to transmit
configuration information containing the network credentials and/or
account credentials from the second electronic device to the first
electronic device (operation 314). The configuration information
may then be used to configure the first electronic device without
receiving input from the user through the user interface of the
first electronic device.
[0058] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart illustrating the process of
configuring a first electronic device in accordance with the
disclosed embodiments. In one or more embodiments, one or more of
the steps may be omitted, repeated, and/or performed in a different
order. Accordingly, the specific arrangement of steps shown in FIG.
4 should not be construed as limiting the scope of the
embodiments.
[0059] First, detection of a non-configured state of a first
electronic device in proximity to a second electronic device is
enabled (operation 402). Detection of the non-configured state may
be enabled by transmitting a beacon frame from the first electronic
device, transmitting a probe response frame from the first
electronic device in response to a probe request frame from the
second electronic device, and/or using a discovery protocol to
provide a message indicating the non-configured state of the first
electronic device.
[0060] Configuration of the first electronic device may proceed
based on a connection of the first electronic device to a wired
network (operation 404). If the first electronic device is
connected to the wired network, the wired network is used to
establish a network connection between the first and second
electronic devices (operation 406). For example, the second
electronic device may connect to the first electronic device
through an access point of the wired network.
[0061] If the first electronic device is not connected to the wired
network, the first electronic device is used to create an ad hoc
network (operation 408), and the ad hoc network is used to
establish the network connection (operation 410). For example, the
second electronic device may establish the network connection by
connecting to the ad hoc network. The ad hoc network may
additionally be created to enable the transmission of beacon frames
and/or probe response frames from the first electronic device to
the second electronic device.
[0062] After the network connection is established, configuration
information from the second electronic device is received over the
network connection (operation 412). The configuration information
may include network credentials (e.g., SSID, password, etc.) for a
wireless network and/or account credentials (e.g., username,
password, etc.) associated with one or more user accounts. The
configuration information may also be verified with a user
(operation 414). For example, the network name and/or usernames
from the configuration information may be displayed to the user to
verify that the first electronic device will be correctly
configured. Alternatively, an identifier associated with the second
electronic device may be displayed to the user to verify the source
of the configuration information.
[0063] If verification of the configuration information is
successful, the configuration information is used to configure the
first electronic device without receiving manual input from the
user through the user interface of the first electronic device
(operation 414). For example, the network credentials may be used
by the first electronic device to connect to the wireless network,
and the account credentials may be used by the first electronic
device to access the user account(s) and/or data associated with
the account credentials. Such configuration of the first electronic
device may also be performed without requiring the user to input
text using a remote control, game controller, and/or other limited
input mechanism for the electronic device.
[0064] FIG. 5 shows a computer system 500 in accordance with the
disclosed embodiments. Computer system 500 may correspond to an
apparatus that includes a processor 502, memory 504, storage 506,
and/or other components found in electronic computing devices.
Processor 502 may support parallel processing and/or multi-threaded
operation with other processors in computer system 500. Computer
system 500 may also include input/output (I/O) devices such as a
keyboard 508, a mouse 510, and a display 512.
[0065] Computer system 500 may include functionality to execute
various components of the present embodiments. In particular,
computer system 500 may include an operating system (not shown)
that coordinates the use of hardware and software resources on
computer system 500, as well as one or more applications that
perform specialized tasks for the user. To perform tasks for the
user, applications may obtain the use of hardware resources on
computer system 500 from the operating system, as well as interact
with the user through a hardware and/or software framework provided
by the operating system.
[0066] In one or more embodiments, computer system 500 provides a
system for facilitating the configuration of a first electronic
device. The system may provide a second electronic device that
detects the non-configured state of the first electronic device.
Next, the second electronic device may establish a network
connection with the first electronic device. Finally, the second
electronic device may use the network connection to transmit the
configuration information to the first electronic device, and the
configuration information may be used to configure the first
electronic device without receiving manual input from a user
through a user interface of the first electronic device.
[0067] In addition, one or more components of computer system 500
may be remotely located and connected to the other components over
a network. Portions of the present embodiments (e.g., discovery
apparatus, communication apparatus, configuration apparatus,
electronic devices, etc.) may also be located on different nodes of
a distributed system that implements the embodiments. For example,
the present embodiments may be implemented using a number of
electronic devices connected through a set of wired, wireless,
and/or ad hoc (e.g., peer to peer) network connections with one
another.
[0068] The foregoing descriptions of various embodiments have been
presented only for purposes of illustration and description. They
are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention
to the forms disclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and
variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art.
Additionally, the above disclosure is not intended to limit the
present invention.
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